Reminder for those who wish to play with young children

[ritaxis]

For a baby, to imitate every sound they make is to play a delightful game and to validate their communication skills.

For a preschool-aged child, to imitate what they say is to tease them cruely.

Dark Horse Girl is . . . two and something. Today she said something wonderful, and having just come from the baby room into the toddler yard, automatically said it back to her. She gave me a disdainful look and walked off, carryin her chair with her, looking over her shoulder just long enough to say "stop it."


Guess she's not a baby anymore.

Why, yes, I apologized, Wouldn't you? And she forgave me, and let me put her shoes and sweater on. And on. And on again. (She's practicing)

Comments

[dd-b.livejournal.com]

I probably would have apologized even though I didn't know about that switchover (not a kid person!). It's important for kids to learn that adults owe them some standards of consideration. And it would have been a clear case of my trying something that didn't work; an apology would be in order.

[ritaxis.livejournal.com]

Actually, I didn't really know about this as a developmental milestone till I saw it today. If someone had asked me about imitating children at different ages, I could probably have come up with the difference, but I'd never have considered it as something to watch for.

But I'd never do it with a preschooler or older, just out of instinct (and vivid memories for how much it pissed me off as a child). It's just this child, who looks like a baby but has the needs (apparently) of an older child.